What Does It Take to Pass Uber Background Check

The Uber background check has been questioned and under a lot of scrutiny lately by the news media. I know if you want to sign up to drive with Uber, you have a lot of concerns about the background check. Such concerns and questions might be what is Uber looking for in your background check. You might also want to know how far back an Uber background check goes, and most importantly if you stand a chance to pass?

Uber’s popularity has been rising progressively over the past few years. As the company has gained a lot of traction and recognition, a lot of people are applying to drive for Uber, and driver sign ups have rocketed. Drivers love the freedom that Uber comes with; they get to choose when and where they want to work. Uber let many drivers be their own boss, but policies are still in place to make sure drivers are thoroughly vetted through Uber background check and qualified to work as an Uber driver.

If you want to drive for Uber, there are other driver requirements beside the background check that Uber will be conducted on you.

The Uber Background Check

First off, you’ll have to consent to complete a background check after submitting your online application to become an Uber driver. By consenting, you give Uber permission to conduct a background check on you and to check your driving record as well. All this happens through a company contracts by Uber called Checkr to perform the Uber background check.

The background check looks at your criminal and driving history.

CRIMINAL HISTORY (You can’t have any of the following convictions for the past 7 years)

Violent crimes

Any felonies

Sexual offenses

Any driving-related offenses

Child abuse or endangerment

DRIVING HISTORY. A. Minor violations (No more than 3 in the last 3 years)

No fatal accidents

No moving violations

Speeding tickets

Traffic light violations

B. Major violations ( You can’t have any of the followings in the past 7 years)

Driving under the influence (DUI) or drug-related driving offenses

Reckless driving

Hit and run

Speeding 100+ Mile per hour

Street racing

C. AGE

If you’re under the age of 22, you must have your driver’s license for at least 3 years.

If you’re 23 years old or older, you must have your driver’s license for more than just 1 year.

Note: If you’re a resident of California and you want to become an Uber driver, you CANNOT have a DUI in the past 10 years.

SUMMARY

How does Uber conduct your background check?

Uber contracts with a company called Checkr to conduct background checks for all potential drivers. The process involves running your social security through a database to trace your identity with the address provided. Checkr runs a series of checks from local, state and national databases for any convictions in the last seven years.

The databases used include the followings:

National Criminal Search

County courthouse records for every county of residence for the last 7 years

Federal courthouse records for the past 7 years

The multi-state criminal database for the last 7 years

Social Security Trace

National Sex Offender Registry

Motor Vehicle Records

Databases for flagging suspected terrorists

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long the Uber background check will take?

According to Uber, it typically takes 5-7 days, but that can vary by a few factors; such as the load of driver applications submitted at the time. Put in mind that Checkr work with other companies as well, with that being said the number of background checks that Checkr are conducted for other companies might cause you to wait longer than expected. Some drivers report that sometimes the background check can take as fast as 3-5 days. In rare occasions, it can take up to 15 days, so put that in mind too.

What company conducts the background check for Uber?

Uber contracts Checkr to conduct background checks on all applicants. Checkr sends the results to you and Uber as soon as they become available.

I see ‘consider’ next to my background check status. Does this mean I fail/pass?

The “Consider”status usually means that there is an issue that requires Uber attention. Uber will have to review the matter manually to make a final decision. Most of the time, if you see “consider” on your status, there is a strong possibility that you won’t get accepted to drive with Uber. Don’t be discouraged, you can try other ride-share service such as Lyft.

Who has to undergo the Uber background check?

All drivers who want to drive for any of the Uber platform (UberX, UberXL, UberPool, UberBlack etc…) must undergo the background check. There’s no way around that, everyone goes through with it

How do you get the background check process started?

After you submit your basic online application, you’ll be able to sign in the Uber driver portal, and from there you’ll see a link to a background check consent form. So, you have to give Uber your consent to conduct a background check on you by filling out the form.

“What if my background check is incorrect, how can I dispute it?”

First you want to contact Checkr at disputes@checkr.com Uber won’t likely discuss or review the results of your background check with you. So, you want to go through Checkr first. Then if it was truly a mistake, Checkr will contact Uber and send an Updated version of your background check. But it wouldn’t hurt to contact Uber and making sure they get the correct one.

“I have a felony on my record, but it’s almost been 7 years. Should I apply now or wait past the 7 years mark?”

I strongly advise you to wait for the 7 years mark, since the Uber background check goes back to as far as 7 years.

“I’m being accused of a crime, but there is no conviction yet. Will Uber see pending charges against me?”

Sometimes, pending charges do show up on background checks, with that being said, if that happens and Checkr caught it, Uber will most likely use that information to decide whether or not they want you to drive on their platform. Best thing is to apply and take your chance.

“I’ve been driving with Uber for awhile now and Uber deactivated me claiming I failed the Uber background check?” How is that possible?
Uber has already dropped/deactivated many drivers from their platform. Uber randomly re-run background checks on some drivers, so if they don’t like what they currently see on your record, Uber will deactivate your account. Remember it’s not the end of the word; you can always try other ride-share services. Keep your head up!

Note: The only sure way to find out if you’ll pass an Uber background check is to apply.